The Housing Design Catalogue is a new Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) initiative aimed at building more housing. Designs were developed by local architecture and engineering professionals to align with regional building codes, planning rules, climate zones, construction methods and materials and architectural styles. For Nova Scotia, the Catalogue includes seven sets of plans: two accessory dwelling units, two fourplexes, one sixplex, and two stacked townhouses.
What are the benefits of using Housing Design Catalogue plans?
Using Housing Design Catalogue plans can save you money and time as you do not need to create plans from scratch. The plans are available to property owners free of charge, though the involvement of a qualified professional, such as an architect, may be needed for permit approvals.
The Housing Design Catalogue plans are designed to be:
- adaptable for a range of accessibility needs;
- energy efficient & climate resilient;
- cost-effective through standardization;
- reflective of regional climate zones, housing needs, and construction methods; and
- compliant with local codes and regulations.
Will my permit application be fast-tracked if I use Housing Design Catalogue plans?
All small-scale residential permits in HRM receive immediate reviews. Projects using the Housing Design Catalogue plans would fall within this existing program. Currently, small-scale residential permits are issued within 16 days of submission, on average.
How do I know if Housing Design Catalogue plans will work on my property?
The following Housing Design Catalogue plans for the Atlantic region have been reviewed by HRM staff and generally comply with land use by-law and Building Code requirements:
Before choosing a design
Each lot is unique, and not every design will be the right fit for your property. Here are some questions to ask yourself before choosing:
- Is the type of building permitted on my property?
- Backyard suites (“accessory dwelling unit” in the Housing Design Catalogue) have been permitted on almost all lots in HRM since 2020. There are some exceptions, notably if your property is under a development agreement.
- Properties that are within the urban service boundary (i.e., have municipal water and wastewater) are permitted up to four residential units per lot. Some larger properties within the Regional Centre are permitted up to eight units. This has been in effect since 2024. There are some exceptions, notably if your property is under a development agreement.
- Backyard suites are eligible for the Second Unit Incentive Program, which provides up to $12,900 in grants for constructing a new unit.
- More information on backyard suite requirements.
If you are unsure if the type of building is permitted on your property, call 311.
- Backyard suites (“accessory dwelling unit” in the Housing Design Catalogue) have been permitted on almost all lots in HRM since 2020. There are some exceptions, notably if your property is under a development agreement.
- Does the design fit on my property?
- Most land use by-laws have setback requirements. This is the minimum distance a building needs to be from the property line. There are generally different setback requirements for front, side, and rear property lines.
- Land use by-laws also have lot coverage requirements. This is the maximum percentage of the lot that can be covered by a building. This includes the main building and accessory buildings such as sheds, garages, and backyard suites.
- Land use by-laws have maximum height requirements for main buildings and backyard suites.
- Depending on the configuration of your lot and neighbouring lots, more stringent Building Code requirements for separation distances may apply.
If you are unsure about any of these requirements, call 311.
- Most land use by-laws have setback requirements. This is the minimum distance a building needs to be from the property line. There are generally different setback requirements for front, side, and rear property lines.
- What else does this new building need?
- Most minimum parking requirements were reduced in 2024. You may still require off-street parking for your new building. Where will it be located? Some land use by-laws restrict how much of the front yard can be used for front yard parking.
- If your property does not receive municipal services (i.e. municipal water and wastewater), you will need to fit on site services, such as a well and septic field, on your property.
- Most minimum parking requirements were reduced in 2024. You may still require off-street parking for your new building. Where will it be located? Some land use by-laws restrict how much of the front yard can be used for front yard parking.
- What other documents will I need to provide when applying for permits?
This will depend on the exact permits required for your project. Please see the New Home Construction FAQ.